French rail booking problem
Jul 22nd, 2012, 08:48 PM
#4
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Well, got this tip from our renter in Paris as I had the same problem. Download the SNCF app on iphone or ipad, in french but pretty easy to follow.
The tricky part is when it requires a mobile number. You must use a 10 digit French number. Could be number of hotel, etc. must start with 06.
My transaction went through immediately. I have spent weeks trying on sncf, tgv, idtgv, etc. CC company says transactions never reached them so problem is in French site.
The app worked! Who knew!
The tricky part is when it requires a mobile number. You must use a 10 digit French number. Could be number of hotel, etc. must start with 06.
My transaction went through immediately. I have spent weeks trying on sncf, tgv, idtgv, etc. CC company says transactions never reached them so problem is in French site.
The app worked! Who knew!
Jul 22nd, 2012, 09:50 PM
#5
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Known issues:
1) SNCF place a limit (but don't say so!) on the total amount of transactions with a foreign card, and as I recall it's about €320. So for one or two 'prems' tickets not a problem, but for full-price tickets for a whole family of 8 it could be!
2) Banks often block 'suspect' transactions, meaning anything foreign. Call your bank and ask them to remove any blocks. You may need to wait 24 hours, as some websites (can't remember if tgv-europe.com is one) reject any card that has previously been declined, for 24h. But if you tried (say) 4 cards, I'd expect at least one to work.
3) iDTGV. You should be able to book almost any train with any credit card on tgv-europe.com, but if the train you're booking is one of a handful of special ultra-cheap TGVs branded 'iDTGV' (not to be confused with the very many regular TGVs) only French cards are accepted. Again they don't actually say this, and it's probably in breach of EU law if I as a Brit can't buy at the same price as a Frenchman, but feedback suggests that iDTGVs are a special problem. I bet that's it in your case - am I right?
1) SNCF place a limit (but don't say so!) on the total amount of transactions with a foreign card, and as I recall it's about €320. So for one or two 'prems' tickets not a problem, but for full-price tickets for a whole family of 8 it could be!
2) Banks often block 'suspect' transactions, meaning anything foreign. Call your bank and ask them to remove any blocks. You may need to wait 24 hours, as some websites (can't remember if tgv-europe.com is one) reject any card that has previously been declined, for 24h. But if you tried (say) 4 cards, I'd expect at least one to work.
3) iDTGV. You should be able to book almost any train with any credit card on tgv-europe.com, but if the train you're booking is one of a handful of special ultra-cheap TGVs branded 'iDTGV' (not to be confused with the very many regular TGVs) only French cards are accepted. Again they don't actually say this, and it's probably in breach of EU law if I as a Brit can't buy at the same price as a Frenchman, but feedback suggests that iDTGVs are a special problem. I bet that's it in your case - am I right?
Jul 23rd, 2012, 10:10 AM
#6
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I just bought one last week or so. SNCF gave me no problems whatsover (I used an American Capital One Mastercard). My credit card company did, however, as when I first tried, it was rejected. I called them up and they admitted they automatically block all foreign purchases, more or less (actually, they have some strange algorithm as they don't automatically block Easyjet purchases which are from the UK). They did this even though I had informed them TWICE that I would be traveling to France and would be making purchases online in advance. I told them that several months ago, and then when I hadn't bought anything at that time, I reconfirmed it as I was getting ready to buy stuff. It was still blocked and I had to call them yet again. They were clueless and could not explain what had happened to my other notifications. But I told them to unblock SNCF and then tried again after 24 hrs (SNCF's rule) and it worked fine.
I had an Amex automatically blocked by SNCF also, and it was Amex that did it, as I called them to find out. I just tried it because I wanted to buy it quickly, thinking it would be easier, but I found out they also pretty much automatically block all foreign purchases. I hadn't notified them in advance, but I had Cap One.
But in neither case was it a SNCF problem or the actual card problem, meaning there is no reason you can't buy one online if your CC company doesn't have a block on foreign purchases.
I had an Amex automatically blocked by SNCF also, and it was Amex that did it, as I called them to find out. I just tried it because I wanted to buy it quickly, thinking it would be easier, but I found out they also pretty much automatically block all foreign purchases. I hadn't notified them in advance, but I had Cap One.
But in neither case was it a SNCF problem or the actual card problem, meaning there is no reason you can't buy one online if your CC company doesn't have a block on foreign purchases.
Jul 23rd, 2012, 10:45 AM
#7
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In June, 2011, after emailing SNCF about my difficulty in purchasing a ticket online, I received an email from them stating their policy for online purchases with foreign credit cards. Here's what it says:
"Je tiens à préciser que pour les cartes bancaires émises à
l'étranger, les paiements sont désormais limités à 1 transaction
par tranche de 24 heures pour un total de 300 euros par semaine (150 euros par jour).
A noter qu'en cas d'erreur de saisie et toujours par mesure de sécurité,
votre carte bancaire est bloquée 24 heures."
My translation in brief: Foreign credit card payments are limited to 1 transaction per 24 hours for a total of 300 euros per week (150 euros per day).
Note that in case of an "erreur de saisie" (error of transmission?), for security, your bank card is blocked for 24 hours.
Again, this information is from June, 2011.
As for purchasing iDTGV tickets, I used my US Capitol One Mastercard to buy them on the iDTGV site, so non-French cards are definitely accepted for those tickets.
"Je tiens à préciser que pour les cartes bancaires émises à
l'étranger, les paiements sont désormais limités à 1 transaction
par tranche de 24 heures pour un total de 300 euros par semaine (150 euros par jour).
A noter qu'en cas d'erreur de saisie et toujours par mesure de sécurité,
votre carte bancaire est bloquée 24 heures."
My translation in brief: Foreign credit card payments are limited to 1 transaction per 24 hours for a total of 300 euros per week (150 euros per day).
Note that in case of an "erreur de saisie" (error of transmission?), for security, your bank card is blocked for 24 hours.
Again, this information is from June, 2011.
As for purchasing iDTGV tickets, I used my US Capitol One Mastercard to buy them on the iDTGV site, so non-French cards are definitely accepted for those tickets.
Jul 23rd, 2012, 11:04 AM
#8
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yes, it seems to be hit or miss or dumb luck whether the card gets through. Neither my Capitol One or BofA have worked with multiple tries on the SNCF site.
Because my CC worked with the mobile site, I assume non French cards are accepted for iDTGV.
Because my CC worked with the mobile site, I assume non French cards are accepted for iDTGV.
Jul 24th, 2012, 08:30 AM
#10
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I don't think it's dumb luck, it is the credit card company that is blocking it. It likely won't change just by trying repeatedly, you have to call up your card company and get them to stop blocking foreign purchases.
It doesn't have anything to do with being a nonFrench card, it is your card company blocking it. Maybe they have different rules for online versus in-person or mobile, who knows.
It doesn't have anything to do with being a nonFrench card, it is your card company blocking it. Maybe they have different rules for online versus in-person or mobile, who knows.
Jul 24th, 2012, 11:16 AM
#11
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I actually sat on the phone with Capitol One as I clicked the buy button on both train sites. The Capitol One person in each case said the transaction did not come in for approval so it was out of their hands. Same story with Bank of America. Go figure.
Jul 24th, 2012, 11:36 AM
#12
>>>yes, it seems to be hit or miss or dumb luck whether the card gets through. Neither my Capitol One or BofA have worked with multiple tries on the SNCF site. <<<
Some websites are only compatible with certain browser versions for purchases. Trenitalia specifically lists which browsers are compatible. Some lock out any purchase attempt after you've tried twice in a 24 hour period.
Some websites are only compatible with certain browser versions for purchases. Trenitalia specifically lists which browsers are compatible. Some lock out any purchase attempt after you've tried twice in a 24 hour period.
Jul 25th, 2012, 07:04 AM
#13
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Just made a second train reservation seamlessly using the free SNCF app on my ipad (also works for iphone).
The 2 necessities:
1. Let your credit card company know about pending overseas transaction.
2. Site requests a mobile phone number. Use a 10 digit French number starting with 06.
After hours spent trying to book on my computer, only to be rejected over and over again, I would call this the miracle app!
Now on to the Renfre site.........
The 2 necessities:
1. Let your credit card company know about pending overseas transaction.
2. Site requests a mobile phone number. Use a 10 digit French number starting with 06.
After hours spent trying to book on my computer, only to be rejected over and over again, I would call this the miracle app!
Now on to the Renfre site.........
